Augmented Reality (AR) represents a viable and efficient approach for combining Virtual Reality with the real world. It also augments user’s perception of a real‐world entity by inserting relevant digital information into the real environment and creating an environment where computer generated information is superimposed onto the user’s view of a real‐world scene. The idea of Pervasive AR (PAR) adds context‐awareness and continuity to the typical AR technology, thus providing continued assistance to the users. This paper is aimed at main drivers and barriers for the implementation of PAR within the field of Architecture, Engineering and Construction (AEC). A review of the literature was performed highlighting the main barriers and drivers for the implementation of PAR in the AEC sector, as well as possible applications of this technology. The literature review showed cost of technology, hardware issues and development of applications as the main barriers for implementing PAR. Whereas, error and cost reduction; and continued assistance were the main drivers of implementation. Although there are some barriers to overcome, the future implementation of PAR in the construction sector looks promising with possible applications of this technology in the AEC sector such as visualisation of spatial, drawing or technical information for designers, the jobsite workforce or marketing purposes.

The classification of peat soils generates a very large number of different
types, from a descriptive perspective this is useful, however such a system
generates too many options for engineering purposes. The behaviour of organic
soils varies based on the quantity and type of organic material present
within the soil. The effects of fibre content are particularly important. The West
Lake in Hangzhou has been dredged many times during its history to allow it to
maintain its beauty. During the most recent dredging the sludge from the lake
was transported via a 4km pipeline and deposited inside the Jiangyangfan Reservoir.
The organic soil situated in Jiangyangfan Ecopark is a particularly interesting
peaty material. The organic sludge was mixed and homogenised during
the transportation process, and then would have settled out within the reservoir.
This resulted in a more than 20m thick peat layer deposited with an uneven surface.
The Ecopark buildings were then constructed on top of this in 2008. A
combined electron microscope and mechanical study of the microstructure and
behaviour of the peat has been used to identify the engineering impact of the
presence of relatively small numbers of fibres within the soil matrix. The fibres
within the peat modify its behaviour such that it can no longer be understood
within the typical critical state framework for soils. The peat starts to plastically
deform from very small levels of applied stress, in addition it does not display a
tension cut-off failure, and ultimately fails in shear.

Stress is a major concern in the construction industry (ci), with work overload, time pressure, a number of organizational tasks and physical demands as the common stressors. Although stress in the ci has been studied extensively, there is a lack of clarity on the ways to cope with it. Based on these considerations, the current work is aimed at identifying factors that contribute to stress among industry professionals, considering the coping strategies they should use and examining the effects of stressors on their health and well-being. A descriptive review of the current literature was conducted on stress and coping strategies in construction. The methodology applied was a descriptive review, using different databases and specific keywords terms. The coping strategies applicable include both adaptive and non-adaptive strategies. The use of adaptive coping strategies determines an increment of job performance, positive outcomes and personal growth. On the contrary, the use of non-adaptive coping strategies has detrimental effects on industry professionals' physical and mental well-being with little consideration given to the spill over effects of work stress to their family and social relationships. Recommendations for improving coping include both promoting the use of effective coping strategies and maintaining supportive social relationships, supporting training and education of professionals, and improving research in the ci using an integrated perspective.

Acid mine drainage (AMD) has long been a significant environmental problem associated to mining operations at the Parys Mountain copper-lead-zinc deposit of Anglesey (North Wales), a volcanogenic massive sulphide district of major metallogenic importance. AMD is a natural occurrence resulting from the microbial oxidation of sulphide minerals, especially pyrite (FeS2), pyrite in presence of water and air, which produces polluted waters strongly acidic containing high concentrations of Fe, sulphate and toxic metals. The treatment of AMD has traditionally been conducted by neutralization with lime or similar materials. However, liming is often temporary and produces secondary wastes, such as metal hydroxide sludges and gypsum, which are highly regulated and have costly disposal requirements. Several methods for AMD treatment have been developed, although adsorption being the preferred method for heavy metal removal due to its effectiveness. AMD remediation can be very costly and difficult, due to the high costs of activated carbon production and regeneration for water treatment. Therefore, alternative low-cost liming materials are constantly sought. Such adsorbents should be readily available, economically viable and easily regenerated. The aim of this study is to investigate the efficiency of synthetic faujasite obtained from coal by-products as adsorbent in removing heavy metals from AMD generated at the Parys Mountain copper-lead-zinc deposit.

This research contributes to a European Union (EU) funded project "Risk Management Software System for SMEs in the Construction Industry (RiMaCon)." The aim was to identify relevant legal risks with a view to manage them. A critical literature review was undertaken and the themes that emerged included procurement, building information modelling, building regulation and construction contract issues including delay, claims and dispute resolution. A case study approach was adopted as the researcher benefitted from a secondment to an SME contractor in Italy where pilot interviews were undertaken. The paper concludes that the literature review seems to have identified legal risks relevant to construction SMEs which will be investigated further.

Geotextile-mats constructed from Borassus aethiopum (Borassus Palm) and Mauritia flexuosa (Buriti Palm) leaves have the potential to decrease soil erosion. In the U.K., field experiments are being conducted on the effectiveness of palm-mats to reduce soil erosion at Hilton, east Shropshire. Twelve plots (each plot measuring 1.0 x 1.0 m; 6 plots were completely covered with Borassus mats, and the other 6 plots were bare) were established to study the effects of geotextile-mats on splash erosion. Eight runoff plots (10 x 1 m on a 15o slope) were used, with duplicate treatments: (i) bare soil; (ii) grassed, (iii) bare soil with 1 m Borassus-mat buffer zones and (iv) completely covered with Borassus mats. Runoff volume and sediment yield were measured after each substantial storm from 25/03/02-10/05/04 (total precipitation = 1320 mm). Results indicate that palm-mats on bare soil significantly reduced total soil splash erosion by ~50% compared with bare soil (34.2 g m-2; during 10/06/02-09/02/04, total precipitation = 1038 mm). Total runoff from bare plots was 3.58 litres m-2 and total sediment yield was 8.58 g m-2. Borassus mats as buffer strips reduced runoff by ~36% and soil erosion by ~57%. Total soil loss from the completely covered plots was only ~16% less than the buffer zone plots. To confirm the results, another set of runoff experiments are in progress at Hilton, with one additional treatment (bare soil with 1 m Buriti-mat buffer zones) compared with the earlier experiment. Results (08/01/07-24/08/07; total precipitation = 702 mm) indicate that total runoff from bare plots was 21.2 litres m-2 and total sediment yield was 2302 g m-2. Borassus and Buriti mats as 1 m buffer strips reduced runoff by ~86 and 61%, respectively, and soil erosion by ~93 and 98%, respectively. Buffer strips of Borassus mats are as effective as complete cover of the same mats and are more effective in reducing runoff water than the buffer strips of Buriti mats. Combined results from both sets of runoff experiments (total precipitation = 2022 mm) suggest that application of Borassus mats as 1 m protective buffer strips on bare soil reduced runoff by ~77% and soil erosion by ~93%. Thus, Borassus-mat (buffer strips) cover on vulnerable segments of the soilscape is highly effective for soil and water conservation on temperate loamy sand soils.

The effectiveness of soil conservation treatments developed in research plots on controlled slopes is being investigated in farmer-managed plots in a natural catchment. This is being achieved by the development and scientific evaluation of modified and novel cropping practices in a representative highland catchment in Yunnan Province, China. The selected catchment, Wang Jia (25° 28'N, 102° 53'E) covers 57.2 hectares near Kedu, in Xundian County, north-east Yunnan. The initial project consists of an evaluation of the effects of modified cropping practices on corn productivity and soil properties. This programme has now been extended to investigate ways of increasing the productivity of corn, wheat and soyabean on fragile slopes in a sustainable and environmentally-friendly way. The approach incorporates modified and novel agronomic and soil conservation measures, to evaluate the agricultural, environmental and socio-economic impacts of these measures using multi-disciplinary approaches. This European Union funded project involves a collaborative research team from Belgium, China, Ireland, Thailand and the U.K. Evaluated effects include physical, chemical and ecological impacts, the conservation of natural resources, management of wastes, returns for stakeholders, poverty alleviation, income augmentation and rural development. This holistic approach has not been attempted previously in the region. The catchment is being used as an experimental area and training model for sustainable agricultural development in the South China highlands. A parallel study, restricted to scientific evaluation of agronomic and physicochemical impacts, is being carried out in a pilot study at Pangmapa, in the highlands of north Thailand, testing the broader applicability of the cropping practices being developed for South-East Asia. Five co-ordinated work packages are being implemented: (1) Background agricultural and environmental assessment of Wang Jia Catchment. (2) Implementation and evaluation of modified and novel cropping systems for wheat, corn and soybean in the catchment. (3) Evaluation of the socio-economic impact of the changed cropping practices. (4) Comparative scientific evaluation of the cropping techniques in the highlands of northern Thailand. (5) Dissemination of project outcomes and establishment of training programmes for best practice in highland rural development. This project aims to infoem the international research community, regional training agencies, local agricultural and conservation services and village communities.

The effects of selected contour cultural practices on soil and water conservation and crop water use efficiency were compared under a rainfed highland agricultural system. The field trial was conducted during 2000 and 2001 on a 35% hill slope (latitude 19°33'47"N, longitude 98°12'9"E, altitude 780m) in Maehongson province, Northern Thailand. A completely randomized design, with four treatments and three replicates, used a cropping sequence of maize, followed by lablab bean, was conducted from May 2000 to April 2002. The treatments were (i) conventional contour planting, CC, (ii) contour ridge cultivation without mulching, CR, (iii) contour ridge cultivation with polythene sheet + straw mulch, INCOPLAST or CRP and (iv) alley cropping with mango-hedgerow tree and ground surface cover with Graham Stylo, AL. Soil water stored within 1700 mm was monitored every 2-3 weeks by neutron moisture meter. Runoff and erosion were measured after every rain storm. Soil sampling and analysis were conducted one month after sowing and one month before harvesting maize. Crop development was measured as total dry biomass at different growth stages and maize and lablab bean yields were harvested as total dry-matter and yields. Results obtained during the two experimental years (2000-2001) showed that alley cropping (AL) was the most effective treatment in decreasing runoff and erosion, while CRP was the second best at erosion control. However, CRP had the highest rate of runoff and erosion under high intensity rainfall during the early growing season. Generally, CRP protected the soil surface from the splash erosion and had better soil physical properties, leading to the highest crop water use efficiency, and had the highest growth rate of Lablab bean. Crop yields under CRP and AL were relatively high andcomparable compared with either CC or CR during the dry season of both years.

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